This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(March 2018) |
William Courtright(February 10, 1848 – March 6, 1933)[1]was an American film actor.
William Courtright | |
|---|---|
 Courtright (right) in still fromThe Tough Guy(1926) | |
| Born | Theodore Courtright March 10, 1848 |
| Died | March 6, 1933(aged 84) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1912-1930 |
Early years
editHe was bornTheodore CourtrightinNew Milford, Illinois,and was educated in the public schools ofIone, California.[1]When he was 16, he ran away from home to join astock theatercompany.[2]
Career
editCourtright's acting career began with Shakespearean plays, as he worked withLawrence Barrett.[3]Before entering the film industry, he appeared inminstrel shows.[1]He made a world tour as a minstrel, with the tour's activities including performing before King Edward VII.[3]
Sometimes billed asBilly Courtright,[1]he appeared in 68 films between 1912 and 1930. He worked withD. W. Griffithand in his later career at theHal Roach Studios,where he appeared in several earlyLaurel and Hardycomedies.
Courtright was still acting at age 80. An item in the October 28, 1928, edition ofThe Cincinnati Enquirerdescribed him as "the oldest living motion-picture actor on the screen..."[4]
His best-known role wasOliver Hardy's wealthy Uncle Bernal inThat's My Wife(1929). His last film, theOur GangcomedyTeacher's Pet,was also his first sound film. This probably makes him one of the earliest born actors to appear in a sound film.
Personal life
editIn 1873, Courtright married actressJennie Lee,and they worked together in vaudeville for 12 years as Courtright and Lee.[5]They also appeared together inIntolerance.Courtright died in Ione, California.
Partial filmography
edit- If We Only Knew(1913)
- The Ranchero's Revenge(1913)
- In Diplomatic Circles(1913)
- The Sorrowful Shore(1913)
- The Enemy's Baby(1913)
- Intolerance(1916)
- The Deciding Kiss(1918)
- Hitting the High Spots(1918)
- Hard Boiled(1919)
- Ace of the Saddle(1919)
- The Jailbird(1920)
- The Blooming Angel(1920)
- 45 Minutes from Broadway(1920)
- The Speed Girl(1921)
- The Millionaire(1921)
- Man Under Cover(1922)
- At the Sign of the Jack O'Lantern(1922)
- Bell Boy 13(1923)
- The Girl I Loved(1923)
- A Man of Action(1923)
- The Heart Buster(1924)
- Are Parents People?(1925)
- The Trouble with Wives(1925)
- Some Pun'kins(1925)
- Thank You(1925)
- All Around Frying Pan(1925)
- The Nickel-Hopper(1926)
- The Tough Guy(1926)
- A Regular Scout(1926)
- The Two-Gun Man(1926)
- Lone Hand Saunders(1926)
- For Wives Only(1926)
- Hands Across the Border(1926)
- On the Front Page(1926)
- Don Mike(1927)
- Duck Soup(1927)
- Arizona Nights(1927)
- Silver Comes Through(1927)
- The Glorious Fourth(1927)
- Jesse James(1927)
- The Pioneer Scout(1928)
- The Sunset Legion(1928)
- That's My Wife(1929)
- Teacher's Pet(1930)
References
edit- ^abcdKatchmer, George A. (2009).A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses.McFarland. p. 76.ISBN9781476609058.RetrievedMarch 28,2018.
- ^"Veteran Actor on Screen at Empire".Honolulu Star-Bulletin.Hawaii, Honolulu. October 10, 1928. p. 28.RetrievedMarch 27,2018– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^ab"Were of the Stage".Oakland Tribune.California, Oakland. April 23, 1933. p. 11.RetrievedMarch 27,2018– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Screen Shorts".The Cincinnati Enquirer.Ohio, Cincinnati. October 28, 1928. p. Section Three - Page 4.RetrievedMarch 27,2018– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"An Old Minstrel Man".The Washington Times.D.C., Washington. June 6, 1914. p. 6.
External links
edit